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Back in the day, 1960's through 1980's, before synthetic oils and before looper engines, in our race engines, KG 4's, KG 7's, 9's Mk 30H and Mk 55h's we ran 2 quarts to five gallons. This was over kill but in a cross flow, that worked pretty well. I today's world, in loopers, I always ran appx. 32 : 1, it seemed like a good number. As far as more horsepower, I have two thoughts:
1) Synthetic burns more completely and may add more power, in loopers only. the theory being that synthetic creates so much lubricity, that rings cant set or seal properly
2) Crossflow engines were designed back when petroleum oils were the only lubrications available and some of the compression in a crossflow comes from the non burnt oil so using petroleum oils can, i believe, raise compression.
On a few side notes...
I would not attempt to "Break in an engine" using synthetic oil, I believe it lubricates so well, that rings may not "Set" properly
and... keep in mind a lower fuel
il ratio, lower being 10:1 rather than higher 50:1, will in effect, lean the engine out.
I think you are doing the right thing however, the sparkplugs are the window to an engine's happiness
-Bunker
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